Writing instruments



J1me 1963 J. P. SHURCLIFF 3,

WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed April 3, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 JOHN P. slew/Q0005 o WM ATTORNEYS June 11, 1963 1. P. SHURCLIFF 3,093,112

WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed April 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v if YER-17 T2518 TE. 1 El F5. 2 [1 TE. El 4-25 0 4g ATTORNEYS June 11, 1963 J. P. SHURCLIFF 3,093, 2

WRITING INSTRUMENTS Filed April 5, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 3 336.27 Rhea 113-29 3:555

6 Ja/m PS/ UACZ/FF ATTORNEYS United States The present invention is related to writing instruments and is more particularly concerned with pencils having movable leads which can be adjusted to and retained in various desired positions.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an economically produceable pencil having one or more manually adjustable writing leads and means for retaining each lead in a given position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument having a tubular body and one that can be produced from a naturally occurring tubular wooden body such as bamboo.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a writing instrument having a longitudinally movable lead contained within a tubular body and controlled by movement of a flexible adhesive tape for adjustably positioning a portion of the lead exteriorly of said body and retaining said lead in position as long as required.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a pencil according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of said pencil.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of said pencil.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5' is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but with the control tape in its lead moving position.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a modified form of pencil.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the lead and tape forming part of said pencil.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the pencil of FIG. 8, but with the control tape in its loose position.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional View of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of a further modified form of pencil.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the pencil of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16- is a sectional view taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 17-17 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 18-18 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but with the control tape in its loose position.

FIG. 20 is a detailed perspective View of the end portion of the lead and its connected control tape.

FIG. 21 is a bottom view of a still further modification of the pencil.

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pencil of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 23-23 of FIG. 21. V

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a lead block forming part of the pencil.

atent 3,093,112 Patented June 11,1963

I is FIG. 25 is a side elevation of a fifth form of the pencil. FIG. 26 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pencil of FIG. 25

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 27-27 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 28-28 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 29-29 34-34 of FIG. 32.

Refer-ring more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters, FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, show one form of the present writing instrument wherein the instrument is designated by the letter A and comprises an elongated solid body having sides 1 and 2 with curved top 3 and a curved bottom 4. A bore 5 extends longitudinally into and through said body with a cylin drical lead slidably mounted in said bore. A slot 7 in side 2 communicates with bore 5 while a flexible tape 8 extends into said slot and around said lead as at 9.

A second bore 10 extends longitudinally into said body from one end thereof beneath bore 5 and has a section 11 of reduced diameter through which the cylindrical lead 12 slidably extends into bore 10'. A slot 15 in side 1' extends in line with and communicates with bore 10 while a flexible tape 13 extends through said slot 15 and around the end of lead 12. Both tapes 8 and 13 have a nondry-ing adhesive 16 on one face thereof which causes the tapes to adhere to the leads and also permits the tapes to be stuck onto the body of the writing instrument for preventing the movement thereof and their connected lead. To adjust the position of the lead, either or both tapes 8 and 13 are disconnected from the body A and manually moved along the slots 7 and 15 causing the leads 6 and 12 to extend from the writing instrument a desired distance. Pressing the tapes 8 or 13 onto the periphery of the body connects the same and prevents the leads from moving even under pressure when writing therewith.

A second form of the present Writing instrument is shown in FIGS. 8 to '13, inclusive, wherein the instrurnent body B is of a cylindrical configuration having a tubular portion 16 with a bore 17 and a longitudinal slot 18 whose walls 19 and 20 extend into said bore. The head 21 of said body has an axial bore 22 communicating with bore 17 while a cylindrical lead 23 slidably extends through bore 22 and has a flexible tape 24 surrounding the inner end thereof as at 25, which portion 25 of said tape slidably rides along walls 19 and 20 for guiding the lead in its movement through how 22. Tape 24 extends through slot 18 and has an adhesive base 26 which connects the tape to lead 23 and also permits the tape to be adhered to the periphery of body 1.

To move lead 23 the tape 24 as indicated in FIG. 10 is pulled loose from body B and manually moved longitudinally thereof for extending or retracting lead 23 relative to head 21. When the desired position of the lead is reached, tape 24 is again adhered to body B as shown in FIG. 12, whereupon further movement of lead 23 is prevented.

A third tonm of the present writing instrument is shown in FIGS. 14 to 20, inclusive. An elongated solid body C having an annular periphery 27 has an axial bore 28 opening at one end of said body while a bore 29 of reduced diameter communicates with bore 28 and extends in line therewith. A cylindrical lead 30 slidably extends through bore 29 into bore 23. A longitudinally extending slot 31 is provided in the side of body C and extends into bore 28. A flexible tape 32 is Wrapped around lead 30 as at 33 with the lead 30 having a section of reduced diameter 34 so that the tape wrapped portion 33 has a diameter exteriorly which is substantially the same as the periphery of lead 30 and slightly smaller than the diameter of bore 28, so that the lead 30 and the tape portion 33 can slidably move and be guided by bore 28 during the longitudinal movement of lead 30.

To move lead 30 tape 32 which has an inner adhesive face 35' is pulled loose from side 27 of body C as indicated in FIG. '19. Whereupon, a pulling movement longitudinally of body C will move lead 30 outwardly from said body or retract the same therein. The confinement of lead within bores 28 and 29 prevents the same from breaking under pressure of the movement of the tape or that of the contact of the lead with the writing material. Re-adhering tape 32 to periphery 27 restrains lead 30 from further movement.

A fourth form of the present writing instrument is shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, inclusive, wherein a tubular body D which can be formed of either natural wood, metal or plastics and particularly can be formed from materials which are found in nature and have a tubular configuration such as bamboo can be used to provide a body 36 having a bore 37. A longitudinal slot 38 is provided through one side of body 36 and communicates with bore 37.

A tubular plug 39 is fastened to one end of body 36 by any known means such as glue or other adhesives. A cylindrical lead 40 slidably extends through the bore of said plug into bore 37. A block 41 having a rounded bottom 42 is mounted upon lead 40 within bore 37 and said block is of a size for substantially filling the space between the periphery of lead 40 and the bore of bore 37. A flexible tape 43 has an end portion wrapped around lead 40 and block 41 as at 43a, which tape has an adhesive face which retains the block upon the lead and thus the wall of bore 37 slidably engages tape portion 43a for guiding lead 40 during its longitudinal movernent through the bore of plug 39 without permitting and greater pressure therethrough such as would tend to break the lead. A node 44 is provided on body 36 which may be a part of the bamboo or may be added to body 36 as an aid in holding the same when writing therewith.

To move lead 40 tape 43 is loosened from body 36 and moved longitudinally of said body which in turn moves the lead 40 into or out of plug 39 as desired. By reapplying tape 43 to body 36 the lead will be held in a desired position.

A fifth form of the writing instrument is shown in FIGS. 25 to 30, inclusive, wherein an elongated body E having an annular periphery 45 also has a central cylindrical cavity 46 with an axial bore of reduced diameter 47 extending into one end of said body in line with cavity 46. A cylindrical lead 48 extends through bore 47 into cavity 46, where a flexible tape 49 has an end portion 50 wrapped around said lead.

An axial bore 51 also extends into cavity 46 but from the opposite end of body E while a cylindrical lead 52 slidably extends through bore 51 into said cavity. A

sound flexible tape 53 has an end portion 54 wrapped.

around the inner end of lead 52. A side slot 55 in said body extends in line with and communicates with cavity 46 with both tapes 49 and 53 extending through said slot. Said tapes have adhesive faces 56 which adhere the same to their respective leads and also permit the tapes to be adhered to the periphery 45 of body E for'restraining said leads from movement. However, either lead can be moved by pulling their respective tape from the periphery 45 and pulling upon the tape in the proper direction until the lead is positioned as required. The raised portions 50 and 54 are of a slightly less diameter than the cavity 46, whereby the walls of said cavity guide the tapes and leads during the movement therein.

In FIGS. 31 to 34, inclusive, there is shown a writing instrument which is substantially the same as that of FIG. 25 with the exception that the leads can be withdrawn laterally of the body of the writing instrument. The body F has annular periphery 57 with a cylindrical axially extending central cavity 58 from which a bore of reduced diameter 59 extends through one end of said body. A longitudinally extending slot 60 of a width for the passage of leads therethrough communicates with cavity 58. A lead 61 to have a tape 62 has one end wrapped therearound is inserted into cavity 58 through slot 60 and then into bore 59, for slidably extending through said bore. A second axial bore 64 extends through the one end of body F through communication With cavity 58 where a lead 65 which has been inserted through slot 60 into cavity 58 slidably extends through bore 64, a flexible tape 66 connected to the inner end of lead 65. A second longitudinally extending slot 68 spaced from slot 60 and being of a greater width also communicates with cavity 58. Tapes 62 and 66 which have an adhesive face extend through slot 68 for being wrapped around the periphery 57, whereupon said leads are restrained from movement. T 0 move the leads said tapes are loosened from body F and moved in the desired direction, whereupon they are reaffixed when the leads have left their desired position. Bores 59 and 64 are of a slightly larger diameter than the leads 61 and 65 so that tapes 62 and 66 can not extend therethrough. Whereupon, the leads can be withdrawn through the slot 60 when it is desired to replace the same.

The tapes can be of any suitable material such as cloth, paper, plastic or the like, and any known non-drying adhesive can be applied to the face thereof.

The present invention is capable of considerable modification and such changes as come within the scope of the accompanying claims is deemed to be a part of the invention.

I claim:

1. A writing instrument comprising an elongated body, a plurality of bores extending longitudinally of said body with each bore opening at an opposite end of said body, a plurality of slots extending longitudinally of said body each communicating with one of said bores, a plurality of leads each slidably mounted in one of said bores, a plurality of supple tapes each afiixed to one of said leads and extending through one of said slots and said tapes each having a non-drying adhesive on one face detachably afiixed to said body at any position along the length of said body retaining its attached lead in any given position in said body as desired and capable of moving said lead in either longitudinal direction when said tape is detached from said body.

2. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slots open on opposite sides of said body.

3. A writing instrument comprising an elongated body having a longitudinal bore and a longitudinal slot in one side thereof communicating with said bore and a bore extending longitudinally through one end portion of said body having a smaller diameter than and extending in line with said body longitudinal bore, a lead slidably mounted through said end portion bore and extending into said body bore, a supple tape affixed to the end of said lead within said body bore for moving said lead in either longitudinal direction when desired and extending through said slot and said tape having a non-drying adhesive on one face detachably adhering to said body at any given position along the length thereof retaining said lead relative thereto.

4. A writing instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein said slot is of less width than said lead and a pair of spaced walls defining said slot extend into said body bore for engaging said lead and guiding same in its movement.

5. A writing instrument comprising a tubular body having a bore and a side longitudinal slot communicatwith a portion of the length of the bore of said body, a lead slideably mounted in said body bore and having an end portion of reduced diameter, a supple tape having an end portion wrapped around and aifixed to said lead end portion and extending through said slot and said tape having a non-drying adhesive on one face Wrapped around and deta'chably adhering to said body at any given position along the length thereof retaining said lead against movement and capable of moving said lead in either longitudinal direction when said tape is detached from said body.

6. A Writing instrument comprising a tubular body having a bore and a side longitudinal slot communicating with the bore of said body, a tubular end plug connected to and closing one end of said body, said plug having a smaller bore than said body bore and being in line therewith, a lead extending through said plug bore into said bore, a supple tape connected to said lead and extending through said body slot and said tape having a non-drying adhesive on one face being detachably connected to said body at any desired position therealong retaining said lead against movement and capable of moving said feed in either longitudinal direction upon detachment of said tape from said body.

7. A writing instrument comprising an elongated body having a stepped bore with a portion of larger diameter and a portion of smaller diameter opening at one end of said body, said body having a slot therein extending into and in line with said body bore of larger diameter, a lead slidably extending through said smaller diameter portion of said body bore and into said larger diameter portion thereof, said lead having a diameter slightly smaller than said bore portion of smaller diameter, a block mounted on said lead Within said larger diameter portion of said bore and filling the space between a side of said lead and a side of said bore, a supple tape having a non-drying adhesive on one face thereof, said tape face being wrapped around and afiixed to said lead and said block retaining the same together and extending through each end thereof With each bore having one of said leads slidably extending therethrough, said body further having an interior longitudinal bore communicating with said end bores but being of a larger diameter, said body also having a side longitudinal slot communicating with said interior bore, a pair of fabric tapes each connected to one of said leads within said interior bore and extending through said slot and said tapes having a non-drying adhesive on a face thereof detachably attaching same to said body at any desired position along the length thereof.

9. A Writing instrument as claimed in claim 8, wherein said slot is of less Width than said leads and said body has a second longitudinal slot communicating with said interior bore and being of a Width greater than said leads for the insertion and Withdrawal of said leads into and from said interior bore.

10. A writing instrument comprising a body having a longitudinal bore having an opening of reduced diameter at least one end of said body and at least one longitudinal slot communicating with said bore, a lead slidably extending through said bore opening into said bore, a supple tape having an adhesive face With a portion of said tape face encircling and adhering to a portion of said lead within said bore, said tape portion slidably fitting Within said body bore and supporting said lead therein and said tape extending through said slot with said adhesive face thereof being positioned and detachably adhering to the periphery .of said body for holding said lead in various given positions relative to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 202,654 Holland Apr. 23, 1878 772,000 Purschke Oct. 11, 1904 775,493 Lamson Nov. 22, 1904 1,861,466 Baffetti June 7, 1932 2,025,938 De Mario Dec. 31, 1935 2,258,170 Austin Oct. 7, 1941 2,902,977 Shurcliff Sept. 9, 1959 

1. A WRITING INSTRUMENT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY, A PLURALITY OF BORES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY WITH EACH BORE OPENING AT AN OPPOSITE END OF SAID BODY, A PLURALITY OF SLOTS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BODY EACH COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAID BORES, A PLURALITY OF LEADS EACH SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN ONE OF SAID BORES, A PLURALITY OF SUPPLE TAPES EACH AFFIXED TO ONE OF SAID LEADS AND EXTENDING THROUGH ONE OF SAID SLOTS AND SAID TAPES EACH HAVING A NON-DRYING ADHESIVE ON ONE FACE DETACHABLY AFFIXED TO SAID BODY AT ANY POSITION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID BODY RETAINING ITS ATTACHED LEAD IN ANY GIVEN POSITION IN SAID BODY AS DESIRED AND CAPABLE OF MOVING SAID LEAD IN EITHER LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION WHEN SAID TAPE IS DETACHED FROM SAID BODY. 